The alarm rang loudly, breaking the morning's fragile silence.
"Min-jun! Turn off your alarm!" Ji-a shouted from her room, her voice filled with irritation. Glancing at the clock, her eyes widened in panic.
She bolted out of bed and stormed into her brother's room, kicking the door open with a force that rattled the hinges. "Turn off your alarm! It's already 7 a.m. Today's our first day of school! Get up!"
Min-jun groaned, burying his face deeper into his pillow. "Just five more minutes," he mumbled, his voice muffled and stubborn.
Annoyed but with no time to argue, Ji-a returned to her room and hurriedly got ready. When she stepped out, the smell of toasted bread greeted her. On the kitchen counter, two neatly wrapped sandwiches waited. Their father had already left, his quiet care evident in the small meal he had prepared.
"Min-jun!" Ji-a yelled, her frustration rising again. "I'm leaving for school!"
Before she could step out, Min-jun sprinted toward her, his disheveled hair and half-buttoned shirt betraying his hurriedness. "I'm coming too!" he called, grabbing a sandwich as they both rushed outside.
The morning air was crisp and gentle, but Ji-a's thoughts were far from serene. She glanced at her brother, walking beside her, exasperated.
"I don't understand what people see in him," she thought, bitterness lacing her inner voice. "They call him handsome, charming, and talented. But to me? He's just my annoying brother.
She sighed, remembering the countless times girls had approached her, eyes sparkling with hope, only to hand her letters meant for him. Worse still, there were moments when boys came her way, and her heart fluttered with anticipation—only for them to do the same.
Ji-a chuckled bitterly, kicking a stray pebble on the path. "Such a waste," she muttered under her breath, her words carrying both humor and resignation.
Min-jun glanced at her, sensing her irritation but saying nothing. The morning sun bathed them in its golden light, their bickering and quiet moments alike woven into the fabric of a new day.
As they walked to school, Min-jun took a moment to fix his hair, smoothing it back with practiced ease. His uniform was now immaculate, his tie perfectly straight. He carried himself with a confidence that could easily turn heads.
Ji-a shot him a sidelong glance, a mixture of annoyance and disbelief flickering in her eyes. "Acting all good now, huh?" she muttered, more to herself than to him.
Her thoughts wandered back to the real reason they had switched schools. It wasn't some grand opportunity or a better curriculum. It was because of him.
In her mind, the scene replayed vividly. Min-jun had beaten up a bully at their old school—at first, it was just one. But when the bully returned with his gang, Min-jun didn't back down. He fought them all.
What followed was chaos. Rumors spread like wildfire, parents were called, and the school tried to brush the incident under the rug. But their father had had enough. Ji-a still remembered his frustration, the sharp words exchanged, and the decision to uproot their lives and start anew.
Looking at Min-jun now, with his polished appearance and carefree demeanor, Ji-a couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation. "He looks like the perfect student," she thought bitterly. "But beneath that charm is a troublemaker who drags the rest of us into his mess."
Min-jun caught her staring and raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked, his tone nonchalant.
"Nothing," Ji-a replied, shaking her head. But inside, she sighed. "It's going to be the same here, isn't it?"
Still, as they approached the school gates, she couldn't deny the faintest flicker of pride in her brother. He might be a troublemaker, but at least he stood up for what he believed in. Even if it meant starting over again.
As they neared the gates of their new school, Ji-a let out a small sigh, her gaze fixed on the pristine campus ahead. The students bustled around, their laughter and chatter filling the air with a sense of anticipation.
"I hope this school is different," she thought, her heart heavy with a mix of hope and doubt.
She glanced at Min-jun, who seemed unfazed, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His polished appearance and confident stride made it seem like he belonged anywhere, but Ji-a knew better. This wasn't just a fresh start—it was a gamble.
As they stepped through the gates, Min-jun turned to her with a small smirk. "Don't worry, Ji-a. I'll behave this time," he said, almost as if he had read her mind.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a soft laugh. "You say that now. Let's see how long it lasts."
The truth was, Ji-a didn't trust his words, but a part of her wanted to believe. Maybe this school would be different. Maybe this time, they could just be ordinary students, not the center of chaos and whispers.
With that fragile hope tucked away in her heart, Ji-a took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Everything seemed fine at first. For the first time in what felt like forever, Ji-a felt a sense of calm at their new school. Min-jun kept a low profile, and no fights or scandals followed in his wake.
But that fragile peace shattered the moment he met a girl named Seo Eun-ha.
Ji-a noticed her before Min-jun did. Eun-ha was quiet and unassuming, always lost in her books or gazing out the window like she was searching for something far beyond the reach of the present. She had an air about her—delicate yet mysterious, like a melody you couldn't quite place but couldn't forget either.
Min-jun, of course, noticed her too.
At first, Ji-a thought it was just curiosity. Min-jun didn't usually pay attention to anyone unless they made the first move. But this time, he was different. Ji-a caught him stealing glances at Eun-ha during lunch, lingering just a bit too long near her desk, and even cracking a rare smile when their paths crossed.
And then it began.